A revised model for coping with advanced cancer. Mapping concepts from a longitudinal qualitative study of patients and carers coping with advanced cancer onto Folkman and Greer’s theoretical model of appraisal and coping

Roberts, Diane and Calman, Lynn and Large, Paul and Appleton, Lynda and Grande, Gunn and Lloyd-Williams, Mari and Walshe, Catherine Elizabeth (2018) A revised model for coping with advanced cancer. Mapping concepts from a longitudinal qualitative study of patients and carers coping with advanced cancer onto Folkman and Greer’s theoretical model of appraisal and coping. Psycho-Oncology, 27 (1). pp. 229-235. ISSN 1057-9249

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Abstract

Objective To explore whether the Folkman and Greer theoretical model of appraisal and coping reflects the processes used by people living with advanced cancer. Methods Interview data from a longitudinal qualitative study with people with advanced (stage 3 or 4) cancer (n=26) were mapped onto the concepts of the Folkman and Greer theoretical model. Qualitative interviews conducted in home settings, 4-12 weeks apart (n=45) examined coping strategies, why people thought they were effective, and in what circumstances. Interviews were coded and analysed using techniques of constant comparison. Results Mapping coping strategies clearly onto the problem- or emotion-focused elements of the model proved problematic. Fluctuating symptoms, deterioration over time and uncertain timescales in advanced cancer produce multiple events simultaneously or in quick succession. This demands not only coping with a single event but also frequent repositioning, often to an earlier point in the coping process. In addition, there is substantial ongoing potential for some degree of distress rather than purely ‘positive emotion' as the final stage in the process is death with several points of permanent loss of capability in the interim. Conclusions The Folkman and Greer theoretical model is helpful in deconstructing the discrete ‘problem-focused' or ‘emotion-focused' coping mechanisms participants describe but its formulation as a linear process with a single, positive, outcome is insufficiently flexible to capture the evolution of coping for people with advanced cancer.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Psycho-Oncology
Additional Information:
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Roberts D, Calman L, Large P, et al. A revised model for coping with advanced cancer. Mapping concepts from a longitudinal qualitative study of patients and carers coping with advanced cancer onto Folkman and Greer's theoretical model of appraisal and coping. Psycho-Oncology. 2018;27:229–235. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4497 which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pon.4497/abstract This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2738
Subjects:
?? psychiatry and mental healthexperimental and cognitive psychologyoncology ??
ID Code:
86986
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
07 Jul 2017 13:24
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
28 Nov 2023 10:49